Clips for mounting decorations on corrugated core twinwall panels

ABSTRACT

Clips for mounting attention-attracting ornaments and decorations on corrugated core twinwall panels, which clips are designed for insertion in the core openings of the corrugated twinwall plastic panels or sheets and displaying the ornaments and decorations for attracting attention to advertising or other indicia on the front and/or rear twinwall panels. The clips are designed to receive strings, ribbons and rubber bands for tethering balloons, as well as wire, tassels, ribbons, streamers and other attachments, decorations, attractive items and ornaments for attracting the attention of passersby. Each of the clips is characterized by one or more engaging leg for insertion in the twinwall panel core openings and an ornament-receiving end or ends extending from the engaging leg(s) and removably securing the various types of ornaments and decorations on the twinwall panel.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of and incorporates by referenceprior filed co-pending U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/774,505,filed Feb. 21, 2006.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to devices for decorating display panels orsheets such as advertising signs and the like and more particularly, toclips for attachment to twinwall corrugated core panel substrate signsor displays and securing ornamental and decorative material forattracting attention to the displays. In a preferred embodiment each ofthe clips is characterized by one or more engaging leg designed forinsertion in selected corrugated center or core openings of twinwallcorrugated core panels or sheets, such as the commonly used “COROPLAST”™twinwall plastic panel substrates. These clips serve to attachconnecting members such as strings, wire and rubber bands to the panelsand to anchor decorative elements such as balloons, ribbons, tassels,reflective streamers and other ornaments, for the purpose of attractingthe attention of passersby. Each of the clips includes anornament-engaging end or ends extending from one or more panel-engaginglegs for anchoring or tethering the respective ornaments to the twinwallpanels. The ornament-engaging ends typically include a slot or slots andpreferably, a hole or opening at the base of the slot or slots, forinsertion of wire, string, rubber bands, ribbons, tassels, streamers andthe like, and tethering items such as balloons, tassels, ribbons,streamers and other ornaments and decorations to the corrugated coretwinwall panels for the purpose of calling attention to the displays andindicia on the twin panel members.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will be better understood by reference to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a typical corrugated core twinwall panelfitted with a dual star ornament and a tassel or streamer ornamentsecured at opposite corner edges, utilizing one of the attachment clipsof this invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view, partially in section, of one corner of thecorrugated core twinwall panel and the tassel or streamer ornamentillustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating a typical firstattachment configuration for securing the tassel or streamer to theengaging end or leg of a W-clip element of this invention;

FIG. 3 is a perspective, exploded view of the tassel or streamer andW-clip combination illustrated in FIG. 2, more particularly illustratinga preferred single engaging leg design for the W-clip, which designincludes a panel-engaging leg and an ornament-engaging end for receivingand securing the tassel or streamer in place in a first attachmentconfiguration;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged perspective view, partially in section, of onecorner of the corrugated core twinwall panel and the dual star ornamentillustrated in FIG. 1, more particularly illustrating insertion of thepanel-engaging leg of the W-clip into an opening in the corrugatedcenter of the corrugated core twinwall panel, and a typical attachmentof the star ornament to the W-clip;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially in section, of a corner of thecorrugated core twinwall panel illustrated in FIG. 1, more particularlyillustrating a typical application of a plate clip to the corrugatedtwinwall panel core;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a typical dogleg clip having a singledogleg panel-engaging leg extending from an ornament-engaging end at anacute angle for insertion in the corrugated center section of acorrugated core twinwall panel (not illustrated);

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a single-engaging leg variation of theW-ornament engaging member illustrated in FIGS. 1-4 of the drawings,more particularly illustrating a preferred slot and companion slotopening design provided in the ornament-engaging end or member, forreceiving a string, rubber band or wire or a tassel or streamer strandor strands;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the plate clip illustrated in FIG. 5 ofthe drawings, wherein the plate clip is fitted with a plate slot and isdetached from the corrugated core twinwall panel;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a shoulder clip fitted with a shoulderclip panel-engaging leg for insertion in a selected one of thecorrugated center openings in a corrugated core twinwall panel (notillustrated) and a pair of bevelled shoulders, each having a slot andslot opening combination;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a gooseneck clip having a gooseneckclip panel-engaging leg for engaging selected ones of the openings inthe corrugated center or core of a corrugated core twinwall panel (notillustrated);

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a reverse-bend clip having areverse-bend clip panel-engaging leg for insertion in one of thecorrugated center or core openings of a corrugated core twinwall panel(not illustrated);

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a typical dogleg clip having a singledogleg panel-engaging leg extending from an arm-engaging end at a90-degree angle for insertion in a selected one of the corrugated centeror core openings of a corrugated core twinwall panel (not illustrated);

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a typical dogleg clip having a pair ofornament attachment legs extending from a single panel-engaging leg atan acute angle for insertion in the corrugated center of a corrugatedcore twinwall panel (not illustrated);

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the dogleg clip illustrated in FIG. 12,more particularly illustrating insertion of a wire end through the clipenlargement opening and placement of a cap on the extending end of thewire for retaining a wire segment in the enlargement opening andmounting a tassel, streamer or other ornament on the wire segment;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the dogleg clip illustrated in FIG. 12,more particularly illustrating insertion of a wire end through the clipenlargement opening and bending the wire end for securing a wire segmenton the dogleg clip;

FIG. 16 is a perspective view of the dogleg clip illustrated in FIG. 12,more particularly illustrating insertion of one end of a string segmentthrough the enlargement opening provided in the attachment legenlargement and knotting the string segment at both ends for securing astrand of tassel or streamer to the string segment and to the clip;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a variation of the W-clip illustratedin FIG. 7, more particularly illustrating a pair of W-clippanel-engaging legs extending from a common ornamental attachment leg,for insertion in a spaced-apart pair of the core openings in acorrugated core twinwall panel (not illustrated); and

FIG. 18 is a perspective view of a typical corrugated core twinwallpanel having a pair of the dogleg clips 12 illustrated in FIG. 12mounted on top and bottom corners in facing, spaced-apart relationshipand suspending a tassel or streamer ornament on the panel.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-4, 7 and 18 of the drawings, a corrugatedcore twinwall panel 1 of selected size and typically having a selectedadvertising or notification indicia on the front panel 2 and rear panel3 (FIG. 18) is provided. The corrugated panel 1 is characterized by acorrugated center 4, sandwiched between the front panel 2 and the rearpanel 3, which corrugated center 4 defines multiple, adjacent corrugatedcenter openings 5 along opposite edges, as illustrated in FIG. 1.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a W-clip 19 is used tosecure a tassel or streamer ornament 6 and a star ornament 7 to oppositetop corners of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1, as illustrated inFIGS. 1-3 of the drawings. The W-clip 19 may be constructed of anyselected material, but is preferably stamped, injected-molded orotherwise shaped from plastic such as polyethylene or polypropylene andincludes a W-clip panel-engaging leg 20, extending to a W-clip bend 21that further extends to define a W-clip ornament attachment leg 22. TheW-clip ornament attachment leg 22 terminates in a W-ornament-engagingmember 23, which has W-legs 24 (FIG. 2) and preferably includes a W-legslot 25, extending into the W-clip ornament attachment leg 22 from thebottom convergence of the W-legs 24, as further illustrated in FIG. 7.The W-leg slot 25 may also include a W-leg slot opening 26 (FIG. 7) andis designed to receive a ribbon, string, cord, wire or the tassel strandor strands 6 a of one or more tassel or streamer ornaments 6.Alternatively, the tassel or streamer ornament(s) 6 or like decorationcan be attached to the W-clip ornament attachment leg 22 at therespective W-legs 24, as further illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 of thedrawings. Accordingly, using the W-clip 19, the tassel or streamerornament(s) 6 can be secured to the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 atany desired location along the corrugated core or center 4 where thecorrugated center openings 5 are exposed, for decoration and ornamentalpurposes.

In a similar manner, the W-clip 19 can be used to attach the dual starornament 7 to the corrugated panel 1 such that the dual star ornament 7is displayed as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 4 of the drawings. In apreferred embodiment, the dual star ornament 7 is characterized by afront star 8 and a rear star 9, spaced-apart from the front star 8 andattached thereto by means of a plastic or wire spring 10. In a preferredembodiment of the invention, the spring 10 is forced into the W-leg slot25 at the bottom convergence of the W-legs 24 of the W-clip 19. Asillustrated in FIG. 4, the W-clip panel-engaging leg 20 is then insertedin a selected one of the corrugated center openings 5 in the corrugatedcenter 4 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1, to secure the dualstar ornament 7 in a desired location on the corrugated core twinwallpanel 1.

Other clips are designed to secure various attention-directingornamental and decorative items, including the tassel or streamerornament 6 and the dual star ornament 7, to a corrugated core twinwallpanel 1, according to the desires of the designer. For example,referring now to FIGS. 5 and 8 of the drawings, a plate clip 27 ischaracterized by a plate 28 of desired size, typically having a plateslot 29 and fitted with a plate clip panel-engaging leg 30, having aplate clip bend 31 which is attached to the plate 28, as furtherillustrated in FIG. 8. Accordingly, the plate clip panel-engaging leg 30can be inserted in a selected one of the corrugated center openings 5 inthe corrugated center 4 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 asillustrated in FIG. 5, to secure the plate 28 tightly against the frontpanel 2 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1, such that ribbons,cords, wire, rubber bands or one or more of the tassel strands 6 a ofthe tassel or streamer ornament 6 can be inserted between the plate 28and the front panel 2 (FIG. 5) or in the plate slot 29 (FIG. 8) tomaintain these ornaments and decorations in place on the corrugated coretwinwall panel 1, as desired.

Referring now to FIG. 6 of the drawings, a dogleg clip 12 isillustrated, having a dogleg panel-engaging leg 13 for insertion in thecorrugated center openings 5 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 inthe same manner as the W-clip 19 and the plate clip 27, as heretoforedescribed with respect to FIGS. 1-3 and 5, respectively. An acute angledogleg bend 14 is provided in the dogleg panel-engaging leg 13 to definea dogleg ornament-attachment leg 15, typically having an attachment legenlargement 16 on the extending end thereof and provided with anenlargement opening 17 of selected size. The enlargement opening 17 issufficiently large to insert a string, cord, wire, rubber band, ribbonor one or more of the tassel strands 6 a of one or more tassel orstreamer ornaments 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, and secure theseornaments on the dogleg clip 12 when the dogleg panel-engaging leg 13 isinserted in a selected corrugated center opening 5 of the corrugatedcore twinwall panel 1.

Referring to FIG. 9 of the drawings, a shoulder clip 33 is illustratedand includes a shoulder clip panel-engaging leg 34, designed forinsertion in a selected one of the corrugated center openings 5 in thecorrugated center 4 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 in the samemanner as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 5 with respect to the W-clip 19and the plate clip 27, respectively. The shoulder clip 33 is furthercharacterized by a shoulder clip bend 35 of selected angular magnitude,which extends to define a shoulder clip base 36, having a pair ofbevelled shoulders 37 on either side thereof and each fitted withtypically parallel shoulder slots 38, that preferably terminate incorresponding shoulder slot openings 39, respectively. Accordingly, astring, ribbon, wire, rubber band or one or more of the tassel strands 6a of the tassel or streamer ornament 6 can be first inserted in one orboth of the shoulder slots 38 and/or the shoulder slot openings 39 inthe shoulder clip 33. The shoulder clip panel-engaging leg 34 is theninserted in a selected one of the corrugated center openings 5 in thecorrugated center 4 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 illustratedin FIGS. 1-3, to secure the ornament on the corrugated core twinwallpanel 1 in a desired location.

Referring now to FIG. 10 of the drawings, a gooseneck clip 41 isillustrated and includes a gooseneck clip panel-engaging leg 42 forinsertion in one of the corrugated center openings 5 of the corrugatedcore twinwall panel 1. The gooseneck clip panel-engaging leg 42terminates in a first gooseneck clip bend 43, which extends to define agooseneck clip neck 44. The gooseneck clip neck 44 extends to a secondgooseneck clip bend 43 a, which terminates in an upward-turned gooseneckclip head 45, preferably having a head bevel 46 and a head/neck slot 47,typically terminating at a head/neck slot opening 48 and located betweenthe gooseneck clip neck 44 and the gooseneck clip head 45. Accordingly,it will be appreciated from a consideration of the gooseneck clip 41configuration that a string cord, ribbon, wire, rubber band or thetassel strand or strands 6 a of one or more tassel or streamer ornaments6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 can be first inserted in the head/neck slot47 between the gooseneck clip neck 44 and the gooseneck clip head 45.The gooseneck clip panel-engaging leg 42 is then inserted in a selectedone of the corrugated center openings 5 in the corrugated center 4 ofthe corrugated core twinwall panel 1, to mount the ornament in aselected position on the panel.

As illustrated in FIG. 11 of the drawings, a reverse-bend clip 50 isillustrated and includes a reverse-bend clip panel-engaging leg 51,fitted with a first reverse clip bend 52 that defines a reverse-bendclip neck 53, which terminates in a reverse-bend clip head 54 at asecond reverse clip bend 52 a. The reverse-bend clip head 54 isupward-turned, typically parallel to the reverse-bend clip neck 53 andthe reverse-bend clip head 54 typically includes a head offset 55 thatdefines a head offset bevel 56. A head offset slot 57 is defined betweenthe reverse-bend clip neck 53 and the reverse-bend clip head 54,beginning at the head offset bevel 56, as further illustrated in FIG.11. A head offset slot opening 58 is preferably provided at the base ofthe head offset slot 57, to better facilitate insertion of a string,cord, wire, ribbon, rubber band or one or more of the tassel strands 6 aof the tassel or streamer ornament 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Thisreverse-bend clip 50 configuration allows insertion of the reverse-bendclip panel-engaging leg 51 into a selected one of the corrugated centeropenings 5 in the corrugated center 4 of the corrugated core twinwallpanel 1 (not illustrated) to display the ornament on the panel.

Referring to FIG. 12 of the drawings, a variation of the dogleg clip 12illustrated in FIG. 6 is shown, more particularly defining a 90-degreedogleg bend 14 in the dogleg panel-engaging leg 13, with the doglegpanel-engaging leg 13 disposed for insertion in a selected one of thecorrugated center openings 5 of the corrugated core twinwall panel 1. Adogleg ornament attachment leg 15 extends from the 90-degree dogleg bend14 and terminates in an attachment leg enlargement 16, having anenlargement opening 17 of selected size for receiving a string, cord,wire, ribbon, rubber band or one or more of the tassel strands 6 a ofthe tassel or streamer ornament(s) 6 illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 andsecuring the decoration to the corrugated core twinwall panel 1 in themanner heretofore described.

Referring now to FIG. 13 of the drawings, a dual dogleg clip 18 isillustrated and includes a single dogleg panel-engaging leg 13 and adogleg bend 14, the latter of which can be disposed at an acute angle ora 90-degree angle, as desired, and extended to define a pair of doglegornament-attachment legs 15, extending therefrom. The correspondingattachment leg enlargements 16 terminate the respective doglegornament-attachment legs 15 and an enlargement opening 17 is provided ineach of the attachment leg enlargements 16 for receiving a string, cord,wire, ribbon, rubber band or one of the tassel strands 6 a of the tasselor streamer ornament 6 as illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and as heretoforedescribed. Accordingly, the dual dogleg clip 18 provides the facilityfor mounting multiple decorative elements extending from a common doglegpanel-engaging leg 13 when the latter is inserted in a corrugated centeropening 5 in the corrugated center 4 of a corrugated core twinwall panel1, as heretofore described.

Referring to FIG. 14 of the drawings, the dogleg clip 12 illustrated inFIG. 12 is illustrated and a length of wire 11 is extended through theattachment opening 17 and a wire cap 11 a is friction-fitted to the topend of the length of wire 11, while the bottom end of the wire 11 isattached in any convenient fashion to a tassel or streamer ornament 6 orother decoration or decorations, for connecting the decoration(s) to acorrugated core twinwall panel (not illustrated) in the manner describedabove.

In another aspect of this embodiment of the invention, the dogleg clip12 illustrated in FIG. 14 is fitted with the wire 11 segment and the topend of the wire 11 is bent to define a wire bend 11 b, for maintainingthe wire 11 in place in the enlargement opening 17 of the attachment legenlargement 16 (FIG. 15). The bottom end of the wire 11 segment can belikewise fitted with one or more tassel or streamer ornaments 6 or analternative decoration, as further illustrated in FIG. 15.

As further illustrated in FIG. 16 of the drawings, a dogleg clip 12 ispositioned to facilitate extension of a length of string 32 through theenlargement opening 17 of the attachment leg enlargement 16 and a topknot 32 a is configured in the top end of the string segment 32. Abottom knot 32 b is tied in the bottom end of the string segment 32after the string segment 32 is extended through a strand opening 6 bprovided in the tassel or streamer ornament 6, further illustrated inFIG. 16. Alternatively, the string segment 32 can be simply tied to thestrand or strands 6 a of the tassel or streamer ornament 6, as desired,to secure the ornament on a corrugated core twinwall panel (notillustrated) as described above.

Referring now to FIG. 17 of the drawings, in still another embodiment ofthe invention a W-clip 19 is provided with a pair ofoutwardly-extending, parallel W-clip panel-engaging legs 20, whichproject from a common W-clip ornament-attachment leg 22, as illustrated.Accordingly, each of the W-clip panel-engaging legs 20 can be insertedin a separate corrugated center opening 5 of the corrugated center 4 inthe corrugated core twinwall panel 1, to further secure the W-clip 19 inplace. As in the case of the W-clip 19 illustrated in FIG. 7, the W-clip19 illustrated in FIG. 17 is fitted with a W-ornament-engaging member 23having W-legs 24 that converge at the bottom to receive a W-leg slot 25and preferably, a W-leg slot opening 26 therein.

Referring to FIG. 18 of the drawings, in another preferred cliparrangement a pair of the dogleg clips 12 illustrated in FIG. 12 can bepositioned in respective spaced-apart corrugated center openings 5 inthe corrugated center 4 of a sheet of corrugated core twinwall panel 1,as illustrated. A cord or string 32 can then be extended through thespaced-apart, facing enlargement openings 17 of the attachment legenlargements in the respective dogleg clips 12 and typically secured inplace by means of a top knot 32 a and a bottom knot 32 b. A tassel orstreamer ornament 6 can then be mounted on the string 32 with tape orotherwise, as illustrated. Alternatively, the tassel or streamerornament 6 may be constructed on the string 32 and extended between thetwo dogleg clips 12. The panel mount legs 59 are typically constructedof wire and are extended into the ground to support the corrugated coretwinwall panel 1 in a desired location. Furthermore, the panel can beoriented such that the corrugated center openings 5 are located at thetop and bottom edges or at the side edges, as desired.

It will be appreciated by a consideration of those skilled in the artthat the various clips of this invention are designed to provide a meansfor decorating a corrugated core twinwall panel 1 in the mannerillustrated in FIGS. 1-3 and 18 of the drawings, for the purpose ofcalling attention to the panel and more particularly, to variousadvertising and informational indicia provided on the front panel 2 andthe rear panel 3 thereof. Accordingly, the clips of this inventionfacilitate a wide variety of attention-directing, decorativeornamentation on the corrugated core twinwall panel 1, which catches theeye of passersby and enhances the value of the advertising and/orindicia located on the panels.

While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been describedabove, it will be recognized and understood that various modificationsmay be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended tocover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

1. A clip for engaging a twinwall panel and supporting an ornament ordecoration, comprising at least one panel-engaging leg for engaging thepanel; at least one bend provided in said panel-engaging leg; and atleast one ornament-engaging member extending from said bend forreceiving and supporting the ornament.
 2. The clip of claim 1 comprisingat least one slot provided in said ornament-engaging member forreceiving the ornament and securing the ornament to said clip.
 3. Theclip of claim 2 comprising a slot opening provided in said slot for atleast partially receiving the ornament.
 4. The clip of claim 1comprising at least one opening provided in said ornament-engagingmember for receiving the ornament and securing the ornament to saidclip.
 5. The clip of claim 2 wherein said ornament-engaging memberincludes a pair of shoulders and said at least one slot comprises afirst slot provided in one of said pair of shoulders and a second slotprovided on the other one of said pair of shoulders.
 6. The clip ofclaim 5 comprising a slot opening provided in said first slot and saidsecond slot for at least partially receiving the ornament.
 7. The clipof claim 1 wherein said ornament-engaging member is shaped tosubstantially define a W extending from said bend and comprising abottom convergence provided in said W.
 8. The clip of claim 7 comprisinga slot extending from said bottom convergence toward said bend.
 9. Theclip of claim 8 comprising a slot opening provided in said slot for atleast partially receiving the ornament.
 10. The clip of claim 1 whereinsaid ornament-engaging member comprises a plate and comprising a slotprovided in said plate for receiving the ornament and securing theornament to said clip.
 11. The clip of claim 10 wherein said bend ischaracterized by a substantially 180-degree bend and said plate issubstantially parallel to said panel-engaging leg.
 12. The clip of claim1 wherein said at least one bend comprises a first bend provided in saidpanel-engaging leg and a second bend provided in said ornament-engagingmember and comprising a slot provided in said ornament-engaging member,said slot beginning at said first bend and extending toward said secondbend in said ornament-engaging member, for receiving the ornament andsecuring the ornament to said clip.
 13. The clip of claim 12 comprisingan opening provided in said slot for at least partially receiving theornament.
 14. A clip for engaging a corrugated core twinwall panel andsupporting an ornament or decoration, comprising at least onepanel-engaging leg for engaging the panel; a bend provided in saidpanel-engaging leg; a generally W-shaped ornament-engaging memberextending from said bend; a bottom convergence shaped in said W; and aslot extending from said bottom convergence toward said bend forreceiving and securing the ornament or decoration.
 15. The clip of claim14 comprising an opening provided in said slot for at least partiallyaccommodating the ornament.
 16. A clip for engaging a corrugated coretwinwall panel and supporting an ornament, comprising at least onepanel-engaging leg for engaging the panel; a bend provided in saidpanel-engaging leg; an ornament-engaging end projecting from said bend;and at least one opening provided in said ornament-engaging end forreceiving and supporting the ornament.
 17. A clip for engaging acorrugated core twinwall panel and supporting an ornament, comprising atleast one panel-engaging leg for engaging the panel; a substantially180-degree bend provided in said panel-engaging leg; a plate disposed insubstantially parallel relationship with respect to said panel-engagingleg, said plate extending from said 180-degree bend; and a slot providedin said plate for receiving and supporting the ornament.
 18. A clip forengaging a corrugated core twinwall panel and supporting an ornament,comprising at least one panel-engaging leg for engaging the panel; abend provided in said panel-engaging leg; a pair of bevelled shouldersextending from said bend; and a pair of slots provided in said bevelledshoulders, respectively, for receiving and supporting the ornament. 19.The clip of claim 18 comprising a slot opening provided in each of saidslots, respectively, for at least partially receiving the ornament. 20.A clip for engaging a corrugated core twinwall panel and supporting anornament, comprising at least one panel-engaging leg for engaging thepanel; a first bend provided in said panel-engaging leg; anornament-engaging end extending from said first bend; a second bendprovided in said ornament-engaging end; and a slot provided in saidornament-engaging end for receiving and supporting the ornament.
 21. Theclip of claim 18 comprising a slot opening provided in said slot for atleast partially receiving the ornament.